Most of the outrage that surrounded the Philadelphia 76ers‘ decision to trade for Zhaire Smith on draft night has died down. People recognize that Smith and an unprotected first-round pick carries more value than Mikal Bridges, even if the latter is an enticing prospect in his own right.
Smith is the best athlete in his class and an elite perimeter defender, leveraging that athleticism to his advantage. His offensive ceiling is also higher than Bridges, even if he’s still a few years away from recognizing that potential.
Unfortunately, Sixers fans won’t get to see Smith on opening night.